Spill inhibiting spout

ABSTRACT

A spout ( 10 ) for mounting on a liquid container ( 12 ) to provide controlled dispensing of liquid therefrom includes a manual control for stopping the flow of liquid through a pouring tube ( 22 ) and an automatic control to prevent spills due to overfilling. Manual control over the amount of liquid flowing through the pouring opening of the spout ( 10 ) is provided by a preferably tubular rod ( 26 ) having a stop ( 28 ) mounted at one end and a push button actuator ( 34 ) at the other end of the rod ( 26 ). The spout ( 10 ) includes a body ( 24 ) with the pouring tube ( 22 ) extending from one side and the push button ( 34 ) for opening the stop ( 28 ) to dispense liquid on the other side of the body. The automatic control is provided through a vent tube ( 30 ) which extends through a port in the pouring tube ( 22 ) and is connected to the tubular rod ( 26 ) which is provided with at least one hole. When the level of liquid in a receiving tank rises over the port, no air enters the liquid container ( 12 ) and consequently the flow of liquid from the pouring tube ( 22 ) is discontinued.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention concerns a spout for use with a liquid container toprovide a liquid dispenser, such as a gasoline jug, and which inhibitsspillage of liquid due to overflow of the liquid during filing of areceiving tank. More particularly, it concerns a spout which may bereadily attached to a liquid container and is manually controllable aswell as automatically inhibiting overflow by cutting off the inflow ofair once the receiving tank is filled.

2. Description of the Prior Art

While conventional pour spouts are available and in use by consumers fordispensing petroleum products such as oil and kerosene into gasolinetanks of lawn mowers and similar equipment, increasing attention isbeing focused on the use of spouts which inhibit spillage. Areas withair pollution problems are looking for ways to reduce to release ofvolatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. When a container,such as a gasoline jug, is used to pour gasoline into the fuel tank ofan engine, it is common for the user to overfill the tank. The spilledfuel represents not only a fire hazard and may damage plant life, butalso represents an undesired source for the release of organic vaporswhich pollute the atmosphere.

One partial solution is shown in my previous U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,746,036and 4,834,270. These patents show an example of the use of a remotelyoperated spout where the operator can virtually instantaneously stop theflow of liquid from a tank. This same concept is shown in the separatespout shown in the drawings and labeled “prior art”. This spout iscurrently offered on a fuel jug sold by No-Spill Research, Inc. ofStanbury, Mo., and features a push-button operated closure with adetachable extension on the spout. The spout permits the user to simplyrelease the button and stop the flow of fuel. However, in the event theuser inadvertently keeps the button depressed after the receiving tankis filled, air can continue to flow into the fuel jug adjacent thebutton, and fuel thereby continues to flow into the tank.

Other attempts to solve this problem have resulted in spouts which aredifficult to operate. In one case, a spout is actuated by shifting aspring-loaded exterior sleeve engageable with the rim of the receivingtank relative to the remainder of the spout and the fuel jug. The forcerequired to overcome the spring is cumbersome and difficult to control,and the application of force may cause the receiving tank or jug to tipand spill the contents. In addition, a preferred spout will resist theescape of vapors during periods of storage. There has thus arisen theneed for a simple and effective pouring spout which inhibits spillage,both by limiting the entry of air once the receiving tank is filled andalso by providing a manual control to shut off the flow of liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects have largely been met by the spill inhibitingspout of the present invention. That is to say, the spout hereofprovides both a manual control and a vent control to inhibit undesiredoverflow of the dispensed liquid from a receiver. The manual control isadvantageously spring biased to the closed position and permits onehanded operation by the user without the need for shifting the entirespout. The vent control effectively shuts off the flow of air into thespout when the level of liquid in the receiver rises to cover the airintake port. When the spout is fixed in sealing relationship with thecontainer to which it is mounted, the inability to introduce air intothe container to replace the volume of the dispensed liquid causes apartial vacuum therein. This in turn slows or stops the flow of liquidout of the spout.

The spout air intake is located on a sidewall of the pouring tube anddirects a return flow of air into the container when the manual buttonis depressed and liquid flows from the spout. Advantageously, the intakeport communicates the air into the container through a vent tube andthen to a tubular rod which also actuates the stop. The holes whichallow the air to move from the rod into the container are located insidethe body of the spout only when the discharge button is depressed. Thislargely prevents dangerous and undesirable venting of fumes when thestop is in the closed position, as there is no outlet for the passage offumes to the atmosphere. The tubular rod mounts the stop and a conduitat one end and spring and the button adjacent the ports on the otherend. The stop is preferably frustoconical in configuration to promotelaminar flow of the liquid and provide good sealing engagement with aninternal annular seat or rim within the pouring tube.

The spout hereof can be used with virtually any liquid, can be sized formounting on containers of various sizes and is easily controlled. Theoperation of the pouring spout is greatly simplified in comparison toother vent limiting spouts, in that the user can simply tip thedispenser, i.e. the container and spout, so that the pouring tube andits air intake port are located in the receiving tank. By depressing thebutton positioned opposite the pouring tube, liquid is dispensed pastthe stop, and releasing the button causes corresponding cessation ofliquid flow. If the button is retained in a depressed position until theliquid level in the tank rises to a level covering the air intake porton the pouring tube, a partial vacuum is formed within the dispensingcontainer and liquid slows and then stops flowing from the pouring tube.

These and other advantages will be readily apparent to those skilled inthe art with reference to the following drawings and description of thepreferred embodiment shown therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view showing thespill-inhibiting spout hereof mounted on a liquid container;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the spout;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view in perspective along line 3—3 ofFIG. 2, showing the flow release button in a depressed or actuatedposition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view along line 4—4 ofFIG. 2, showing the spout hereof mounted on a liquid container witharrows illustrating the liquid flow and return ventilation of gas intothe container with the tubular rod shifting the stop to a first flowpermitting position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the spout taken along line5—5 of FIG. 2, showing the flow release button in the extended positionto shift the rod and the stop carried thereby to a second positioninhibiting the flow of liquid through the pouring spout and past thestop;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4,showing the pouring tube inserted beneath the liquid level of areceiving tank so that the spout air intake is beneath the surface,thereby inhibiting the further discharge of liquid from the spout; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 of a priorart spout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 7 illustrates a prior art spout 1adapted for coupling to a liquid container by threaded attachment,chemical bonding or heat sealing. The spout 1 as shown includes apouring tube 2 with a stop 3 for preventing liquid flow. An extension 4is frictionally fitted over the pouring tube 2. The stop 3 is carried bya solid shiftable rod 5 connected to a button 6 and carried by a body 7.Spring 8 biases the button 6 and therefore the rod 5 and stop 3 to aclosed position. By pressing on the button 6, the rod 5 shifts withinthe pouring tube 2 so that the stop is shifted away from its flowinhibiting position illustrated. Air enters the spout 1 between the body7 and the rod 5 to replace the volume within the container vacated bythe dispensed liquid. Seals 9 surround the rod 5 and are held inposition by a seal spring to inhibit the escape of fumes from the spout1 when the stop 3 is in the closed position, but no provision is madefor limiting intake of air from either the pouring tube 2 or theextension 3 when liquid is being dispensed therefrom.

FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate my new spill-inhibiting spout 10 inaccordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the spout 10hereof is designed to be mounted on a liquid container 12 presenting ahollow reservoir 14, a graspable handle 16, and a filler cap 18threadably mounted on the handle 16 to permit filling of the reservoir14 without the need to remove the spout 10. The container 12 may be ofmetal, polyethylene or other suitably strong and leak-resistantmaterial. The spout 10 may be screwed on to a threaded neck 20, as shownin FIGS. 4 and 6, or alternatively chemically bonded or heat welded ontoa smooth neck to ensure proper alignment of the spout 10 relative to thecontainer 12.

As shown in FIGS. 2 through 6, spout 10 broadly includes a pouring tube22, a body 24, a tubular rod 26 mounting an annular stop 28 and a ventintake tube 30 at one end 32 and carrying a button 34 at the other end36. A spring 38 is positioned between the body 24 and the button 34,thereby biasing the rod 26 toward the button 34 and the stop 28 intoseating engagement with a seat 40 on the pouring tube 22.

In greater detail, pouring tube 22 may be provided as a single tubularextension from body 24, or as shown in the embodiment illustrated in thedrawings, as a pipe 42 integrally formed with and extending from body 24and a detachable, flexible extension 44 frictionally fitted over thepipe 42. The pouring tube 22 includes a pouring opening 46 at the remoteend thereof, and a port 48 defined in sidewall 50 of pouring tube 22.The pouring tube 22 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided withcorrugations 52 upstream from port 48 to provide flexibility for thepouring tube 22 and thereby permit the orientation of the pouringopening 46 to be changed. The annular seat 40 is preferably integrallyformed with pouring tube 22 as a raised ridge to sealingly engage thestop 28 when seated thereagainst.

Body 24 is substantially cylindrical about an upright axis, carryingpouring tube 22 and a button receiver 53 in opposed relationship locatedalong a common normally horizontal axis as illustrated in FIG. 5. Thebody 24 includes an internally threaded collar 54 configured formounting on neck 20, or alternatively the collar may be smooth forchemical bonding or welding to the neck or lugged for bayonet mounting,or other mounting relationship to permit the spout 10 to be attached tothe neck 20 to avoid liquid leakage. The body 24 also includes acircular wall 56 presenting an opening 58 into pouring tube 22 and anopposed access 60 for the passage of tubular rod 26 therethrough. Theaccess 60 is sized just large enough to accommodate rod 26 therethroughand thus not only acts a bushing supporting the rod 26 during shiftingof the latter, but also as a seal to inhibit the undesired escape ofliquid or vapors between the rod 26 and the body 24.

Tubular rod 26 is shiftably carried by the body 24 for reciprocatingmovement initiated by button 34 mounted to rod 26 by snap fitting,threads, or, as shown in the drawings, a set screw 61. The rod 26presents one end 32 and other end 36 which is internally threaded toreceive set screw 60. An O-ring 62 is mounted on tubular rod 26 and islocated between button 34 and opening 58, the O-ring being biased insealing relationship against access 60 by spring 38. Tubular rod 26 alsopresents at least one and preferably a plurality of holes 64 which arelocated on the exterior of the wall 56 when the button 34 is free andthe stop 28 is resting against seat 40 as shown in FIG. 5, but which arelocated on the interior of the wall 56 when the button 34 is depressedand the stop 28 is unseated as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.

The holes 64 fluidically communicate through a tubular channel withinand extending the length of tubular rod 26 to vent intake tube 30mounted on the one end 32 into the interior of the body 24 and thusfluidically communicate with the hollow interior of the liquid container12. Stop 28 is also mounted on tubular rod 26 at one end 32. The stop 28is preferably fixed by threading onto rod 26, adhesive, or other meanswhereby the stop is prevented from shifting along the rod 26. The stop28 also preferably presents a frustoconical outer surface 66 topreferably cause the flow of liquid therepast to be more laminar andalso to facilitate seating of the stop 28. The stop 28 may be oflow-density polyethylene or a resilient, petroleum resistant syntheticresin material such as neoprene to further promote sealing. The tubularrod 26 extends forwardly from stop 28 into pouring tube 22 to receive asleeve 68 of intake tube 30 thereon. Intake tube 30 also includes acurved portion 70 which is preferably of a flexible tubular syntheticresin material and provided with a diagonally cut end 72 to lie flushwith the exterior of the pouring tube 22 and within port 48. Theflexibility of the curved portion 68 facilitates shifting of the tubularrod 26.

The spout 10 hereof is useful in dispensing a variety of liquids, butits features are particularly beneficial in connection with dispensinggasoline, kerosene or other petroleum products because the designinhibits undesired escape of vapors of VOCs. In typical operation, thespout 10 is mounted to container 12 to provide a liquid dispenser 73.The user grasps handle 16 and tilts the container 12 so that the levelof the liquid 74 within the container 12 flows through the opening 58and into the pouring tube 22. When the user is ready to dispense theliquid 74, he pushes against the button 34 with a thumb or finger,thereby shifting the tubular rod and stop 28. This both permits liquid74 to pass from pouring tube 22 and exposes the holes 62 within thecircular wall of the body 24 so that as the liquid passes from the spout10 through the pouring opening 46, air is permitted to enter through thevent intake tube 30 and through the holes 64 into the interior of thespout 10 and into the container 12 on which the spout 10 is mounted. Atany time, the flow of liquid will cease when the user releases thebutton and the spring 38 returns the button 34 and tubular rod 26 totheir initial position shown in FIG. 5, all the while maintaining O-ring62 in sealing engagement over the access 60 and against the circularwall 56. The rearward shifting of the rod 26 also causes the stop 28 toseal against seat 40 to immediately cut off the flow of liquid past thestop 28.

In the event the user is dispensing the liquid 74 into a tank 76 orother receptacle, the level 78 of the liquid received therein mayeventually rise to threaten spillage by overflow. The spout 10 hereof,when properly used, resists this eventuality. When the end 72 of thevent intake tube 30 below the rim 80 of the tank 76, the level 78 of theliquid 74 will rise above the end 72 before the liquid spills over therim 80 and out of the tank. When the level 78 rises above the end 72 ofthe vent intake tube projecting through port 48, air is no longer ableto enter into the spout 10 nor into the container 12 when the filler cap18 is securely in place as shown in FIG. 1. A vacuum begins to buildwithin the container, slowing the discharge of liquid through thepouring tube 22 until the flow therethrough virtually stops as shown inFIG. 6. Because the holes 64 are within the interior of the spout 10, noair may enter the container 12. The vacuum thus created is maintained,so that even if the user inadvertently keeps the button 34 open longerthan desirable, spillage will be averted provided the end 72 remainsbeneath the level 78. Upon recognizing that the level 78 is at themaximum desired, the user will then know to release the button 34 toclose the stop against its seat prior to lifting the end 72 above thelevel 78. During storage, vapors are prevented from escaping past theO-ring and the stop 34, and air may pass through the vent tube 30without entering the interior of the container 12, thereby avoidingundesired escape of volatile fumes.

The construction of the spout 10 hereof thus permits one handedoperation and a minimum of parts which can be readily assembled with asmall expense, and is easy to use, maintain and store.

Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, itis to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only,and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scopeof the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplaryembodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. For example the use of a threaded collar on the spout 10avoids the necessity for a separate filler cap 18, making the spout 10hereof useful in connection with bleach bottles or other chemicalcontainers where the liquids, if spilled, may be harmful. A lever orother engagement member could be substituted for the button 34 to shiftthe rod 26 from a position exterior to the body. Other examples of suchmodifications include making the tubular rod 26 of brass, syntheticresin or other crush-resistant material and integrally forming the rod26 with vent tube 30.

The inventor hereby states his intent to rely on the Doctrine ofEquivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope ofhis/their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materiallydeparting from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set outin the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A spout adapted for mounting on a liquidcontainer outlet and comprising: a body adapted for mounting on saidcontainer outlet; a pouring tube extending from and fluidicallyconnected with said body, said pouring tube presenting a pouringopening; a stop operatively coupled with said pouring tube and shiftablebetween a first pouring position permitting liquid flow therepast andout said pouring opening, and a second position engaging the pouringtube in order to inhibit flow out said pouring opening; a stop operatorincluding an elongated, movable tubular rod coupled with said stop, andan engagement member coupled with said tubular rod and extending fromsaid body for selective rod movement in order to thereby move said stopbetween said first and second positions thereof, said tubular rod havinga hole which is located within said body when said stop is in said firstposition thereof, said tubular rod being oriented for the entry andpassage of air therethrough and out said hole into the liquid containerwhen said stop is in the first position.
 2. A spout as set forth inclaim 1, said stop being annular and mounted in surrounding relationshipto said tubular rod.
 3. A spout as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidspout includes a pipe integrally formed with the body and a flexibleextension fitted to the pipe.
 4. A spout as set forth in claim 1,wherein said tube includes one end and another end, said stop beingpositioned at the one end, said at least one hole being positionedproximate the other end.
 5. A spout as set forth in claim 1, including aspring positioned between said engagement member and said body forbiasing said stop to said second flow inhibiting position.
 6. A spout asset forth in claim 1, wherein said spout includes a sidewall having aport for receiving therethrough a vent tube fluidically coupled to saidtubular rod.
 7. A spout as set forth in claim 1, including incombination therewith a container for carrying liquid therein mountingsaid spout thereon.
 8. A spout as set forth in claim 1, said bodyincluding a wall having an access therein, said tubular rod beingoriented for passage through said access and for movement of said holetherethrough.
 9. A spout as set forth in claim 2, wherein said pouringspout includes an annular seat extending radially inwardly for sealingengagement with said stop.
 10. A spout as set forth in claim 4, whereinsaid engagement member comprises a button located at the other end ofthe tubular rod.
 11. A spout as set forth in claim 5, wherein saidspring is a coil spring positioned in surrounding relationship to saidrod.
 12. A spout as set forth in claim 11, wherein said body includes awall presenting an access therethrough, said access being positionedopposite to said pouring spout for shiftably receiving said tubular rodtherethrough, said spout further including a sealing ring carried bysaid tubular rod and located externally of said body, said spring lyingin engagement with said sealing ring for biasing said sealing ringtoward said access.
 13. A spout as set forth in claim 12 wherein said atleast one hole is located in said rod adjacent said access, whereby saidhole is located inside said body when said stop is in said first flowpermitting position and is located outside said body when said stop isin said second flow inhibiting position.
 14. A spout as set forth inclaim 12, including in combination therewith a container for carryingliquid therein mounting said spout thereon.
 15. A spout as set forth inclaim 8, including a sealing member mounted on said tubular rodintermediate said hole and said engagement member for sealing againstsaid wall around said access to inhibit the passage of air past said rodwhen said stop is in said second position.
 16. A method of pouringliquid from a dispenser to a receiving tank comprising the steps of:providing a dispenser including a container and a spout mounted to thecontainer, said container including a quantity of liquid therein, saidspout including a body fluidically coupled to the liquid within thecontainer, a pouring tube extending from and fluidically connected tothe body, a stop operably coupled with the pouring tube and shiftablebetween a first pouring position permitting the liquid to flow therepastand out of the pouring opening and a second position engaging thepouring tube in order to inhibit the flow of liquid out of said pouringopening, a stop operator including an elongated moveable tubular rodcoupled with said stop and an engagement member coupled with andextending exteriorly of said body for selective rod movement in order tothereby move said stop between said first and second positions, thetubular rod having a hole which is located within the body when the stopis in the first position, the tubular rod being oriented for entry andpassage of air therethrough and out of the hole into the liquidcontainer when the stop is in the first position; actuating saidengagement member to shift said tubular rod relative to the body andmove said stop from said first position to said second position;dispensing liquid past said stop and into the receiving tank whilepermitting air to enter into the dispenser past said stop through saidtubular rod and out of the tubular rod through the hole; decreasing theflow of liquid from the spout as the level of the liquid in thereceiving tank rises to block the entry of air into the tubular rod. 17.A method of pouring liquid as set forth in claim 16, including shiftingthe tubular rod to move the stop to the second position to block theflow of liquid past the pouring opening.
 18. A method as set forth inclaim 16, wherein said pouring tube includes a sidewall having a porttherethrouoh and a vent tube fluidically coupled to said tubular rod andinto said port, whereby said dispensing step further includes passingair through said port and said vent tube and into said tubular rod. 19.A method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said hole is positioned outof fluid communication with the liquid within the container when thestop is in the second position.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 17,wherein the rod is biased to move the stop to the second position whenthe engagement member is released.